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In the Name of Allah
Socrates
Socrates was a great
Greek philosopher and was born in 470 BC in Athens. He discovered the
presence of the one and only God and decided to guide people to this
holy path. He publicized his ideas through discussions and dialogues. He
was killed through drinking hemlock poison (This will be further
discussed in detail later in the article). Why? Because he propagated a
new God (monotheism or the one and only God). It was said that Socrates
brought philosophy from the sky to the land; i.e. he simplified it.
He
was two-sided at his time; he was loved by some people and hated by
others. Some who did not know him hated him and he was loved by those
who knew him.
His
father, Sophroniscus, was a sculptor and a stone carver. He was the
person who made the statue of Hermes.
We
will try to explain to you who Hermes was:
Hermes,
the son of Zeus, was born in a cave on a mountain situated south of
Academia. Some myths name him as the god of thieves or the god of
travellers.
(Please
accept that we are quoting their statements; this does not have anything
to do with our belief in the oneness of God.) His statue stood at
intersections in the form of a cylinder, the top half of which resembled
humans and a number of sheep revolved around it.
Those
who believed in god of species considered him like their god; i.e. the
centre of all blessings. Sometimes the word ‘Hermes’ refers to the first
day of each solar month.
Sometimes
it refers to the name of the prophet Enoch and to the name of a king who
had knowledge of philosophy, mathematics, arithmetic, geometry and
astronomy.
As
for Socrates’ mother:
She was a midwife in a
hospital and through her fiery and strong statement which follows formed
the basis of Socrates’ life which is forever eternal:
Oh
son! Either be a man or make men or serve sick people like I do.
What she means by being
a man is to make the world take notice of you through good deeds. Making
a man means being a teacher at any level of the levels of science;
whether at primary levels or secondary or the highest level of
education, the ceiling of which is called university.
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Sometimes people would
ask Socrates which job he would like to have and he would reply: the
same as my mother. They would then say, “But she is a midwife!” and he
would reply, “I do not want to deliver people’s babies, I want to
deliver people’s beliefs.”
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His feet were bare, his
head was hatless and he had a torn or half-torn garment on and would
sometimes cover his head. His slippers had a bottom but did not have a
cover.
Some
people asked him, “Why do you not have shoes and a hat?” He replied,
“Can I live without shoes and a hat or not?” They replied, “Yes, you
can.”
He
said: Therefore, it is better not to
engage yourself in these unnecessary things. I have come to this
conclusion that to any extent I cut myself away from imperfections, I
will become closer to perfections.
He
would say: The closer man gets to
perfection, his dependence on others becomes less
(Professor Ali Mosavi: This is in fact the truth).
Socrates
said: You enjoy things which I do not.
You enjoy excess wealth and I take pleasure in not having it.
When
he would start thinking about a subject he would forget the whole world
and whatever is in it. He would become still like a person who is
affected by gravity.
He said:
Try to tolerate what is unavoidable with dignity, so that you will be
fruitful since with anxiety you can not be fruitful.Be patient, as
patience bestows you honour.
He says:
Speaking thoughtlessly is a mistake. If you are thoughtful then you may
talk.
He considered the basis of morals to be monotheism and wisdom. One whose
belief in God’s singleness is strong will have stronger morals too.
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Can
high-walled prisons silence the mysticism and knowledge which is hidden
in the hearts?
Socrates
was imprisoned. Why? Because the government of the time feared he might
cause disruption.
While
he was in prison, the learned and scientists were engrossed by him and
adored him. Some of the people who were enthusiastic for his knowledge
rushed to him eagerly when they heard he was imprisoned.
He
would move from beside one tree to another like a peripatetic and would
teach till eventually the rulers of his time convicted him to drinking
hemlock poison.
As soon as he was told
you should drink this poison today, he laughed loudly.
People asked: Why do you
laugh?
He replied:
I have made an agreement with my God that
whatever event comes upon me, I will open my lips and not close my eyes.
He
had 25 superior students. Socrates’ death sentence terrified them.
However, Socrates said:
I
have created many Socrateses, therefore, there should be no fear of my
death and you are the same as me!
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He had no script. His
sayings would pass on by word of mouth. At the start of the
Christian era; i.e. around 400 years after the death of
Socrates, his viewpoints were gathered in the form of
writings and were taught and are even now taught in
universities and scientific centers. |
At the time when he was
going to be killed with the hemlock poison, a young boy entered
panting and said: Professor, I bring good tidings; I have asked my
father to set you free. My request from my father was for him to ask the
governing board who issued your death sentence to give me the poison
instead of you and they have accepted my request. Therefore, I will now
bestow my life to you, oh professor, and I will drink the poison instead
of you so that the doors of the prison will become open to you!
Because
your presence saves the whole world and
hearts from darkness and instead creates sparks and lights. Your being
is a jewel whose existence is more beautiful and more worthy than a
creature such as me who has not reached the level you have.
Note:
This event warns the
world that the value of existence of true scientists and those who have
been selected in knowledge is at the highest point of magnificence and
greatness.
Anyway, Socrates looked
at the young boy and asked:
Do you know how old I
am?
The boy replied: No
Socrates said: (His
statement is disputed; some say he was 73 and some say 83) Do you
know that I am 73 years old and during my life I have benefited from the
privileges of law? It was law that bestowed peace and calmness upon me.
Therefore, law is sacred for Socrates. Now the same law has issued a
sentence against Socrates and if you drink the poison instead of me, the
power of law will diminish.
Therefore,
you remain and I ask God for you to become fruitful and effective.
Prepared
by one of the students of
Researcher and
Philosopher, Professor Mosavi
October 2005 |